Diving sled



United States Patent Inventor Caryl C. B. Hastings Cambridge, Mass. (1 Bellingham Place, Boston, Mass, 021 14) Appl No. 792,467 Filed Jan. 21, 1969 Patented Dec. 22, 1970 DIVING SLED 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. Cl 114/16, 1 15/61 1111- 363g s/oo, 863g 8/14, A63c 11/10 FieldotSeareh 114/16,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,961 12/1919 Grantham 2,918,889 12/1959 Rebikoff....

FOREIGN PATENTS 351,381 5/1905 France Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Attorney-Kenneth S. Goldfarb ABSTRACT: A marine propulsion device for use as a propulsion unit for a diver comprising a housing having a motor therein driving a propeller, a support platform upon which a diver may recline, ballast means for surfacing the unit and safety control mechanism, and diving plane means to control the attitude of the unit.

nrvuvo sum This invention relates to a marine propulsion device and more particularly to an aid for comfortably and safely propelling a diver beneath the surface of the water while not impairing his freedom of motion.

One of the popular outdoor sports is underwater swimming or scuba diving. The diver not only has the unusual experience of being able to stay for an extended period of times under water, but also can perform useful functions in exploration, rescue operations, repair of equipment, etc. To this end, it is often desirable to provide the diver with some means of accelerating progress through the water.

It is the primary object of the invention to not only provide a motorized device for propelling the diver at a relatively high rate of speed without an unnecessary exertion of the divers effort, but which incorporates certain safety features which permit the surfacing of the device at will or upon failure of the device's source of electrical power or failure of any of its parts.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a safe and convenient marine propulsion device capable of being used by a diver without impairing the divers freedom of motion. One of the particularfeatures of the invention is a means used for enabling a diver to recline upon the upper surface of the device in a completely comfortable manner and while in this position to operate the various controls of the device which alter its speed, position and depth.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a marine propulsion device that is simple in construction, capable of using various existing parts, which is attractive in appearance, and efficient in operation.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this marine propulsion device, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention which can be used by any person equipped with underwater breathing equipment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detained fragmentary perspective of the diving plane mechanism of this device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the device taken along the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 1, showing in detail the pushbutton switch for releasing the ballast;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial fragmentary side elevational view of the device showing in detail the ballast control mechanism, parts being broken away to show other parts in detail;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial fragmentary side elevational view of the ballast being released from the device after operation of the latching mechanism according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the device looking along the plane of line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the rear portion of the device showing the drive means therefor; and,

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of the device in accordance with the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and with initial reference to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate a marine propulsion device illustrated in accordance with the concepts of the present invention. The marine propulsion device 10 includes a housing, generally designated by numeral 12. Disposed in the housing is an electric motor 14, labeled M, electrically connected by wires to suitable rechargeable batteries 16, labeled BAT, for driving the motor, as can be seen in FIG. 7. The motor drives a shaft 18 having an end extending outwardly of the end wall 20 of the housing on which a propeller 22 is threadedlysecured. The shaft 18 is journaled in the housing by suitable bearings 24.

The housing 12 has an elongated hollow body 26, of any suitable and desired configuration for best seakeeping qualities, with a contoured support platform or surface 28 securely mounted on the upper surface thereof for carrying a passenger thereon, as will be described more fully hereinafter. Surrounding the propeller 22 at the rear portion of the device 10 is an openwork propeller guard 30 which is securely fastened by rivets 32, or welding or like fastening means, to the rear section 34 of the housing 12. The wall of section 34 is concentric with the narrowest circumference of tapered guard 30 and a plurality of radiating members 36 traverse its cross section at its reannost portion, converging upon an annular ring 38 inside of which the shaft 18 is joumaled by bearings 24.

The housing 12 may be divided into compartments, the forward one of which may be open to the sea for ballast purposes.

Inside the forward compartment of this housing 12, a small compressed air bottle with ,a canvas-backed butyl rubber balloon may be provided to exhaust ballast water in the forward compartment by any suitable actuation means.

Alternatively, a ballast, generally designated by numeral 44, depends from the housing 12 having the same rounded outer contours as the housing 12. The ballast 44 includes an optional outer covering 46 of metal, plastic, or other suitable material, inner weight 48, a pair of roller bearings 50 and ringshaped portion 52 rising from its upper surface.

A solenoid, generally designated by numeral 54, is located within the housing 12 close to ballast 44 and includes a length of wire 56 wound about a metal core 58. Fastened to the end of core 58 is an L-shaped electrically nonconductive member 60. The ends 62 of wire 56 are electrically connected in series to batteries 16 in a circuit including a switch, generally designated by numeral 64 which will be described hereinbelow. When solenoid 54 is energized by batteries 16, as it is when switch 64 is closed, L-shaped member 60 is seated in opening 66 in ring-shaped portion 52 and thus suspends the ballast 44 in the bottom of the device 10. When the switch 64 is opened, the solenoid is deenergized causing its core 58 to move in the direction of arrow 68 and member 60 to be disengaged from ballast opening 66. The ballast 44 then falls, as is shown in FIG. 5, downwardly in the direction of arrow 70 due to gravity. By thus releasing the ballast 44, the device 10 will rise upwardly and finally surface.

A safety latching mechanism, indicated at 74, is provided to prevent the ballast 44 from being accidentally disengaged from the solenoid 54 by the unintentional opening of switch 64 by the devices passenger. Latch 74 comprises a slide 74 which ordinarily overlaps the bottom surface 76 of ballast 44 by virtue of the position of lever arm 78 which is secured to one side 80 of slide 74 and which can be partially rotated about pivot 82. When it is desired to release the ballast 44, lever arm 78 is rotated from its position depicted in FIG. 4 in the clockwise direction shown by arrow 84 to its new position, depicted in FIG. 5, wherein slide 74 is completely enclosed by slide frame 86. The ballast 44 is thus free to fall immediately upon the opening of switch 64. Referring to FIG. 6, a second lever arm 88 is pivotally attached to ballast 44 on the other side of device 10. This assures release of ballast 44 only upon deliberate action by the passenger.

The switch 64 is mounted on the hollow elongated handle bar 65 of the device 10 although it will be appreciated that its location is merely a matter of convenience and can be varied as the need arises. Switch 64 includes an elongated body 90 of electrically insulative material which serves as a pushbutton and which will be so termed hereinafter. Pushbutton 90 is seated within a hollow tubular extension 92 of hollow handle 65 and is fastened to an electrically conductive body 94. A ring-shaped body 96 is inserted within extension 92 and surrounds a portion of pushbutton 90. A helical spring 98 surrounds pushbutton 90 and, as an additional safety feature, offers resistance to the depression of pushbutton 90. Intentional movement of pushbutton 90 in the direction of arrow 100 will displace conductive body 94 from the pair of electrical contacts 102 causing the circuit of FIG. 8 to be opened and the core 58 to be moved in the direction of arrow 68 inwardly of the solenoid 54.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the diving plane mechanism generally designated by numeral 104, controls the attitude of the device. The mechanism 104 includes a pair of diving planes 106, each of the diving planes 106 being disposed at either side of the device 10. The position of the planes 106 can be adjusted by rotation of knob 108 which is located on one end of handle 65 and which is secured to control rod 109 disposed within hollow handle 65. The movement of control rod 109 is transferred to shaft 110 connecting diving planes 106 by a belt 112 which extends between pulleys 114 and 116, respectively located on control rod 109 and shaft 110.

At the opposite end of handle bar 65 is located throttle knob 1 18 which is connected in series to the set of batteries 16 and to the motor 14 and controls the speed of the device through water.

An additional precaution is taken to insure the safety of the device. Suitable optical means, either a meter or light, are provided to visually alert the passenger that the electric energy controlling the device is about to be dissipated or has already failed. In the first instance the passenger need merely release the ballast 44 in the manner described hereinabove. In the latter case, the failure of the batteries will cause a short circuit and deenergize solenoid 54 which mechanically disengages the ballast 44 from member 60 and releases it into the water as soon as the lever arms 78 and 88 are pivoted so that the latch 74 is slid to the unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 5.

Thus, a diver who is comfortably reclinging on surface 28 can control all movement of the device without changing his position. Of course, this device reduces exertion of effort by the diver in propelling himself in water to the very minimum. Hence, when he reaches his underwater destination he will be able to perform his mission, such as a rescue operation, repair of equipment, etc. with greater efficiency and more likelihood of success.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

lclaim:

1. A marine propulsion device comprising a housing having a shaft journaled in said housing and extending through one end thereof, support means on said housing for receiving a passenger thereon, motor means in said housing for driving said shaft, a propeller on said shaft, a source of electrical power in said housing, electrical connection means for electrically connecting said motor to said source of electrical power, ballast means depending from said housing, solenoid means selectively mechanically engaging said ballast means and being electrically connected in series to said source of electrical power, switch means electrically connected in series to said solenoid means and said source of electrical power for controlling energization of said solenoid means so that selectively upon operation of said switch means and upon failure of said source of electrical power said solenoid means will be mechanically disengaged from said ballast means to permit said ballast means to react to gravity.

2. A marine propulsion device according to claim 1, including slidable latch means disposed beneath said housing and engageable with said ballast means for mechanically locking said ballast means to said housing.

3. A marine propulsion device according to claim 2, wherein said latching means includes a lever arm pivotally mounted on one side thereof for being manually pivoted from its normal position wherein said latch means overlaps the bottom of said ballast means defining a locking position to a position wherein said latch means has been slid from its locking position when said solenoid means is mechanically disenga ed rom said ballast means to permit said ballast means to reac to gravity.

4. A marine propulsion device according to claim 1, including a control rod fixed to said housing and extending transversally thereof, diving plane means below said support means and below said control rod, means interconnecting said control rod with said diving plane means and within said housing so that manipulation of said control rod will set the attitude of said diving planes.

5. A marine propulsion device according to claim 3, wherein said last-named means includes a pair of pulleys, one of said pulleys being secured to said control rod and the other of said pulleys being secured to said diving plane means, and belt means extending between said pulleys for transferring movement of said control rod to said diving plane means.

6. A marine propulsion device according to claim 1, wherein said switch means includes an electrically insulative pushbutton, an electrically conductive member fastened to said pushbutton, and spring means normally tensioning said pushbutton so that electrically conductive member abuts a pair of electrical contacts for positively engergizing said solenoid means until said pushbutton is depressed and said solenoid means is mechanically disengaged from said ballast means.

7. A marine propulsion device according to claim 1, wherein said propeller is threadedly secured to said shaft, said device including a ducted propeller guard surrounding said propeller. 

